08/30/2010

Torrance jury convicts man of trying to kill Gardena police officer

LA County District Attorney's Office

TORRANCE – A Carson man was convicted by a Superior Court jury today of trying to kill a police officer 2-1/2 years ago outside a pizza restaurant in Gardena.

Deputy District Attorney Lowell Anger of the Crimes Against Police Officers Section (CAPOS) said the jury deliberated less than a day before returning the guilty verdict against 23-year-old Trevon Willis.

Besides attempted first-degree murder, the jury convicted Willis of assaulting the officer with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury also found true allegations that Willis personally used and discharged a handgun against the officer -- causing great bodily injury -- and that the shooting was a gang crime.

Anger said Willis faces multiple life prison terms when he returns on Oct. 22 to the Torrance court of trial Judge Steven R. Van Sicklen for sentencing and setting of a trial date in an unrelated murder.

Officer Eric Hyde was shot twice in the leg on Jan. 9, 2008, during an exchange of gunfire outside the pizza restaurant in the 1300 block of West Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena. Willis was arrested after the shooting and has remained in custody on $2 million bail.

The attempted murder case was filed by CAPOS on Jan. 25, 2008. Later, the complaint was amended to include murder and attempted murder charges in connection with an unrelated May 2006 driveby shooting in which a man was killed. The two cases were severed.